Alice and I are off to France on the 24th but haven't booked or planned anything yet.

We are looking for:

HOT weather,Amazing Views,Things to do and see,To see a few places not just one.

We are looking for any suggestions / do's and don't's / Things to take / any experiences or lessons learned you would like to share. Any of these would be greatly appreciated as untill about an hour ago I wasn't even aware you had to take certain things (such as high viz vests etc) :S

I have taken this very helpful list off another post i've viewed and am wondering if this is everything I need or if theres more?:

Van

General check over – including = Wheel bearings Drive shaft bolts (inner and outer) Spare set of keys All fluids Exhaust condition (Expensive to fix if it fails in France !) Fan belt Bulb kit purchased Required by French law Tyre condition and pressures Gas bottle full Insurance for France – Docs in the van Required by French law Taxed for duration MOT'd for duration GB plate fitted http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180923277536? ... 1439.l2649 Headlight deflectors Required by French law Breakdown cover checked – Docs in the van. Hi Viz vest(s) Required by French law Warning Triangle(s) Required by French law Registration docs (V5) in the van Required by French law Driving licence(s) in van (including the PAPER bit !) Required by French law Spare van keys Alarm system or other security measures Fire Extinguisher Required by French law

Van spares (Note, I reckon Brickwerks can get parts to France in a day or two, so I ain't going to be carting around water pumps and alternators etc !)

Contact number for 80-90 member “sarran1955” in France for info and translations etc - taken from the “80-90 Members help” list (suggest use for emergencies only) John (sarran1955) and Steve (82JEW75) FRANCE 0033 xxxxxxx Advance warning preferred (number removed as this is a public area of this forum)

Personally I was alarmed not to see gaffer tape and WD40 on the list, surely the two most important tools in anyones toolkit

Seriously though french campsites are generally great - we did 5 weeks touring france in 2010, tents + (1998 "new") beetle rather than a camper and the thing we missed the most was some kind of fridge/ powered coolbox. We tried using bowls of water which gave us about 2 hours of unmelted margarine time between refills in summer heat, some campsites would let us freeze ice blocks for our coolbag, but others wouldn't. If you haven't got a fridge in the van, take a 12/240 volt coolbox plus mains hookup lead, and european adapter. Mains hookup costs a few euros more per pitch. If you are rolling up without booking, there's often more choice available if you don't need hookup though.

I can't remember exactly which sites we went to off the top of my head, but headed unplanned down through loire, dordogne, bordeaux to the gers region where we stayed a while, popped over the pyrenees to santander in spain too for a night!

Most camp sites will have closed down around the time you are going over there, so if you are staying on sites I recommend you buy a Michelin camping book now. It will at least show you which sites are still open as a guide. Some sites are open all year round but you need to plan your journeys accordingly. Breakdown cover is of course a must. And yes gaffer tape and wd40 really are essential.

As far as journeys go just head South of Paris and potter. There is so much to see and much of it you will find on the way. Some of the nicest drives I've had have been on the D roads which tend to be slower but not slow. The N roads are faster and are constantly being upgraded and the road surfaces are excellent. However, if you want to get to warmer parts in a hurry then take the toll roads. You can cover long distances at a steady 60mph and as far as I'm concerned the cost of the tolls is negligible for the convenience provided and the increase im mpg provided by the steady speed. These roads are also so well built and maintained and the surfaces so quiet you realise that its not your van making all the noise you hear back in the UK. Bon route and tell us how it went.Patrick

Ian Hulley wrote:Buy Carrefour Mousse Forestiere and Bleu Fondant cheese l'Eclerc for the best cheap 5 litre red wine, their Vieux something or other Merlot is really rather special.

I bought 2 x 5 litres of the Vieux Carion brand red wine from l'Elclerc. The Gamay Cotes du Tarn is a bit on the grim side. I have yet to try the Cabernet Sauvignon Pays d'Oc. I bought Roquefort cheese as usual, unfortunately I didn't see the Blue Fondant.

Ian Hulley wrote:Buy Carrefour Mousse Forestiere and Bleu Fondant cheese l'Eclerc for the best cheap 5 litre red wine, their Vieux something or other Merlot is really rather special.

I bought 2 x 5 litres of the Vieux Carion brand red wine from l'Elclerc. The Gamay Cotes du Tarn is a bit on the grim side. I have yet to try the Cabernet Sauvignon Pays d'Oc. I bought Roquefort cheese as usual, unfortunately I didn't see the Blue Fondant.

Ian Hulley wrote:Buy Carrefour Mousse Forestiere and Bleu Fondant cheese l'Eclerc for the best cheap 5 litre red wine, their Vieux something or other Merlot is really rather special.

I bought 2 x 5 litres of the Vieux Carion brand red wine from l'Elclerc. The Gamay Cotes du Tarn is a bit on the grim side. I have yet to try the Cabernet Sauvignon Pays d'Oc. I bought Roquefort cheese as usual, unfortunately I didn't see the Blue Fondant.

Get you ... sound just like Jilly Feckin Goulden

Young Mr.Hulley, I said the wine was ''a bit on the grim side''. Ms Goolden would have said that it ''tasted like new mown hay'' or something equally ridiculous. The Lad tells it as it is!